innovating for sustainable equitable development By Robert Kriger

“…innovating for sustainable equitable development” By Robert Kriger Director: Policy & Strategy Office of the President and Chief Executive Officer National Research Foundation UNISA LIS Symposium, July 04 2008 1

Science System pre-1994 • Largely complicit with security establishment / military-industrial complex • Fragmented & under-resourced • Exodus / retrenchment of expertise • Lack of research culture & capacity, esp. at HDI’s • Blacks & women under-represented • Impact of sanctions & academic boycott – • Minimal international networks & partnerships • Policy disarray 2

Science Landscape Level 1 High-Level Policy Government ASSAf CHE Level 2 Ministry NACI Dept. of Education Science & Technology Trade & Industry Minerals & Energy Agricult. Health DWAF DPE DEAT DSD Do. L DOC Treasury R&D Tax offset Other Departments … Level 3 Agency Level 4 Research & Innovation Performers NRF TIA Higher Education Institutions IDC SEDA NRF HSRC CSIR Africa Institute SA Energy Res. Inst. SABS SANERI Mintek Council Geosci. NECSA MRC ARC MRC Water Res. Com. Weather Service Business Enterprises Mr&CM SANBI 3

GLOBAL AFRICA NRF in the NSI GOVT DEPTS NGOs Human Resources Development Interventions NRF S S K K N N LI LI SCIENCE COUNCILS L AL A N N O IO TI AT A N RN ER TE T IN IN South African National System of Innovation INDUSTRY Innovation Interventions HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTUIONS 4

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NRF VISION 2015 World-class research Transformed society Sustainable environment 6

NRF MISSION To contribute to the knowledge economy in SA by attaining at least 1% of global R&D output by 2015 7

Mandate of the NRF: NRF Act Promote and support research through funding, human resource development and the provision of core national research facilities in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all the people of the Republic 8

RISA: Researcher Profile Age of South African Journal Article Authors 9

Ph. D. Production Profiles 10

The Ph. D. Pipeline (National) Existing National graduation pipeline (2005) Senior certificate with endorsement ~ 86 500/yr HE graduation rates ~ 47 753/ yr Hons ~ 23 000/yr Masters ~ 8 000/yr Ph. D’s ~ 1 200/yr Existing National SET pipeline (2005) HG Maths and Science ~ 26 000/yr Required National and SET target pipeline (2024) X 5. 0 increase Senior certificate with endorsement ~ 432 500 /yr HG Maths and Science ~ 130 000 /yr SET graduation rates ~ 15 991/yr HE graduation rates ~ 602 000/ yr SET graduation rates ~ 79 955/ yr Hons ~ 3 200/yr Hons ~ 115 000 /yr Hons ~ 16 000 /yr Masters ~ 2 900/yr (incl. coursework) Masters ~ 40 000/yr Masters ~ 14 500/yr Ph. D’s ~ 561/yr Ph. D’s ~ 6000/yr Ph. D’s ~ 2805/yr 11

Knowledge Production – a National Imperative Knowledge production is intimately linked to a vision of an economy supported by science and technology, enhancing the daily lives of our people. Minister of Science & Technology, Minister Mosibudi Mangena, Conference on Human Resource for Knowledge Production, June 24 2005 12

Core Missions o Development of high quality human resources in substantially increased numbers o Generation of high quality knowledge in prioritised areas that address national & continental development needs/ priorities o Utilisation of knowledge, technology transfer and innovation to ensure tangible benefits to society from the knowledge created o Provision of state-of-the-art infrastructure essential to facilitate the development of high quality human resources and a knowledge economy 13

National Facilities Infrastructure • Unique position in SA knowledge production (geographical advantage opportunities; multi-user facilities; at a scale not affordable by individual institutions) • Large and unique science infrastructure for the research community • Technology, methods, data pools/collections of international standard • Goals and knowledge diffusion aligned to objectives of NSI • Critical mass of equipment, facility centred skills & users • Ability to attract international collaborators • Provide opportunities of research capacity development to disadvantaged • Platform for science advancement, education & outreach 14

Cross-cutting Strategic Priorities o Promoting equity and equality o Adherence to quality o Internationalising research o Focusing on Africa o Positioning the NRF within the NSI o Organisational transformation: o Business processes and procedures o Human resources – race, gender o Financial 15

Equity & Redress - (Number of Grant-holders) 16

NSI Value Chain NRF TIA 17

Acting along the Value Chain SET HUMAN CAPITAL Desired outcomes Creation of critical mass Stimulation & enhancement of innovation Stimulation of enhanced entrepreneurship PROCESSES Science Advancement Knowledge Generation Improved Technology Quality of Life!! Promotion NRF B/Us’ Programme SAASTA NAT. FACILITIES FA (Education) Focus Area Programmes Research Capacity Dev. Centres of Excellence National Research Facilities Promotion THRIP Innovation Fund Enterprise Development Innovation Fund

Three Pillars of the NRF Quality of life Public S&T outreach (SAASTA) Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA) Provision of National Research Facilities National Research Foundation 19

Human Resources & Transformation: Internal Challenges • Staff recruitment, retention, and succession planning and salaries to total expenditure • Appropriate levels of staff qualifications and skills to achieve goals, e. g. proportion researchers to total staff • Organisation development - culture change, transformation and equity 20

THANK YOU RISA 21